Using a ThinkPad X61s in 2020

Using a ThinkPad X61s in 2020(ikarios.wordpress.com)

20 points by archielc 4 years ago | 15 comments

loser777 4 years ago |

I recently bought a 16GB DDR3 upgrade for my T420, purchased in 2011 from the Lenovo outlet store. Sure the bezels date it instantly and the battery life can't compare to an M1 Macbook, but in many ways it's the last "real" Thinkpad that's usable.

It's the last model with the old-style 7 row keyboard, and when my display cable flaked out in 2012, IBM(!) was still in charge of honoring the warranty. I got a box shipped to me that I put the laptop in, it got overnighted for repairs, and overnighted back. It's a chunky and hefty device by today's standards, but that's part of the charm. Swapping in a battery feels like reloading a weapon (especially the 9 cells).

16 GiB is usable in 2022, with exotic upgrade options for CPU (you can go to Ivy Bridge via a BIOS flash (!)), and external GPUs are an option as well (PCMIA !!!). There are 1080p screen retrofit kits, with the main liability going forward probably being the reliability of third-party 9 cell batteries.

salamandersauce 4 years ago | |

Doesn't the T420 lack USB 3 though? I had a T430 and even with the "good" 900p screen it wasn't very good with awful viewing angles. I did recently pick up a cheap W520, same keyboard as the T420, USB 3, an actually decent 1080p screen and a quad core CPU plus a 32GB RAM ceiling. It is a chonker though.

nathanasmith 4 years ago | | |

>Doesn't the T420 lack USB 3 though?

It does but fwiw the T420s has one. I'm pretty sure you can get Express Card USB 3 ports too.

>even with the "good" 900p screen it wasn't very good with awful viewing angles

Very true. Fortunately it's a simple procedure to replace the panel with a cheap 1080p one from Aliexpress. Make sure you get the controller too.

ohmywhat 4 years ago |

Delighted to see this. The X61 is one of my favorite laptops and I felt silly buying a second one (8 years ago..!) when it was already considered out of date.

I recently had the same thought I did then: what if I got another X61?!

It's really disappointing that Lenovo's Thinkpad division went with a Macbook-ification of the product line, though I understand why they did.

One thing I discovered: Thinkpad sells external USB & bluetooth keyboards that have the pointing stick. They're based on the newer Thinkpad keyboard design but it was a nice enough compromise for me that I went for it.

ct0 4 years ago | |

The trackpoint keyboard II plus is really a treat. I have the bluetooth model now. Enjoying its minimalism as well as its similarity to my x230. I have an older SK8845 but its not as portable, being wired and all. https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/accessories/trackpoint_keyb... Have you heard of the x62?

archielc 4 years ago | |

Also check out Thinkpad inspired TEX Shinobi keyboard: https://tex.com.tw/products/shinobi

Lammy 4 years ago |

I use almost this exact machine as my main ArcaOS system and I love it a lot: https://imgur.com/a/7TcIBV9

emptyparadise 4 years ago | |

What's ArcaOS?

pndy 4 years ago | | |

An OS build from OS/2 Warp 4.52 that tries to keep up IBM platform alive today with all sorts of updates; IIRC it features some ports system for Linux software

emptyparadise 4 years ago |

I'd love one of these with a much better screen and some light ARM CPU. Has anybody tried to stick a Raspberry Pi 4 and an iPad Pro screen (or something else with a matching aspect ratio) into one of these?

lambda_tango 4 years ago | |

No ARM CPU, but there was an aftermarket conversion called the X62[0], with upgraded display and Intel Broadwell CPU. I think it's mostly been supplanted by an X201 conversion, the X210[1].

[0]: https://geoff.greer.fm/2019/03/04/thinkpad-x210/

[1] http://www.cnmod.cn/x210/

camgunz 4 years ago |

I used an X60 for years and loved it. I've since tried to use it again and I've evidently been spoiled by other machines:

- it--and its slight upgrade the X61--run hot, and nothing you do (shielding, thermal paste) really helps enough.

- they guzzle power, perf per watt is very bad, and Atoms are faster.

- no AES accel :(

Strongly recommend going for the full-fat X220. The only dealbreaker there IMO is no 4k@60fps external monitor support.

spaceisballer 4 years ago |

Sort of off topic but I have an X220 but I’m having issues getting the trackpad to work. Seems to only recognize the track point. Anyone else have similar issues?

nathanasmith 4 years ago | |

Maybe check to see if the trackpad is turned off in the BIOS. Aside from that, open the machine up and fiddle with the connector to see if it helps.

hajimuz 4 years ago |

Everything is fine except the CPU, which is not really enough for developing.